![\"\"](\"http:\/\/feastandflowers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/LIZ-STANLEY-1.gif\" "\\"LIZ-STANLEY-1\\"")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
How do you say thank you… and goodbye in the same breath? \u00a0I apologize for this post to those of you who really just want to read about food, flowers, and entertaining. \u00a0 But food for me has always involved relationships and family.<\/p>\n
I have learned that food, entertaining and the happiness it brings opens you up to new friendships and that is why we need to make sharing a meal with friends at our own tables a part of our lives. \u00a0 I am fortunate to adore my clients… I really do enjoy working with and for them. \u00a0But there are a few people who seem to shine so brightly. \u00a0The friend and client I am speaking of had a combination of truth, kindness, brilliance, and she touched my life in a very special way.\u00a0 And of course she was a dog lover like me.<\/p>\n
I started cooking for this amazing woman who encouraged me to go down this path.\u00a0 We started talking about her style, her favorite flavors and spices, the way she wanted to entertain, and the importance of enjoying her home and sharing her home with others.\u00a0 This relationship morphed into weekly cooking and special diners for family and friends.\u00a0 And then we became friends, good friends, and this is the gift that food gave me a wonderful, honest, caring, reciprocal friendship.\u00a0 It was like an angel landed into my life because as much as I did for her she gave back to me in encouragement, honesty, laughter, and support. \u00a0I cannot say enough about how special Elizabeth Cheval was.<\/p>\n
We never know where life will lead us, it is a journey and on the way if we meet one or two truly exceptional people how lucky are we.<\/p>\n
If we can call them friends then we are even more fortunate.\u00a0 So I am a very rich person because of “food”.\u00a0 It has brought me these treasured friendships and it has warmed my soul when family gathers, and it has opened up roads for me yet to explore.<\/p>\n
One of Liz’s favorite guilty pleasures were my Brownies.\u00a0 She would call me to make a batch to bring to the office for a special meeting or to bring as her dessert addition to a friend\u2019s home for an evening… or just the need to have a few in the freezer to sneak and enjoy when she needed a bit of sweetness in her life! \u00a0 I am reworking them as “Liz’s Best Turtle Brownies”.\u00a0 I will forever think of her when I make them.\u00a0 Thank you Liz for your inspiration!<\/p>\n
I use this\u00a0brownie recipe<\/a>, placing \u00bd of the brownie mixture into the pan.\u00a0 I make homemade Carmel sauce.\u00a0 The recipe is Ina Garten’s and referenced below.\u00a0 I put about \u00bd cup of pecan halves on the brownie mixture. Then I pour \u00bd cup of the Carmel sauce on top. Next I spread the rest of the brownie mixture on top and bake. \u00a0The final step is to place in fridge for an hour cut and serve!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n RECIPE: Caramel Sauce<\/p>\n <\/p>\n INGREDIENTS: <\/p>\n DIRECTIONS: \u2022 Cook over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Do not stir.<\/p>\n \u2022 Increase the heat to medium and boil uncovered until the sugar turns a warm chestnut brown (about 350 degrees F on a candy thermometer), about 5 to 7 minutes, gently swirling the pan to stir the mixture. Be careful \u2013 the mixture is extremely hot! Watch the mixture very carefully at the end, as it will go from caramel to burnt very quickly.<\/p>\n \u2022 Turn off the heat. Stand back to avoid splattering and slowly add the cream and vanilla. Don’t worry – the cream will bubble violently and the caramel will solidify.<\/p>\n \u2022 Simmer over low heat, stirring constantly, until the caramel dissolves and the sauce is smooth, about 2 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature, at least 4 hours. It will thicken as it sits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How do you say thank you… and goodbye in the same breath? \u00a0I apologize for this post to those of you who really just want to read about food, flowers, and entertaining. \u00a0 But food for me has always involved relationships and family. I have learned that food, entertaining and the happiness it brings opens …
\n\u2022 1 \u00bd cups sugar
\n\u2022 1\/3 cup water
\n\u2022 1 \u00bc cups heavy cream
\n\u2022 \u00bd teaspoon pure vanilla extract<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Mix the water and sugar in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/feastandflowers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/TurtleBrownies5.gif\" "\\"TurtleBrownies5\\"")
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/feastandflowers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/TurtleBrownies2.gif\" "\\"TurtleBrownies2\\"")
<\/p>\n
Read more